DUI Look Back Period

Question: What is a look back period? What is the look back period for a DUI in Alabama?

Answer: In DUI jurisprudence, the look back period is the term used in how far back a sentencing court can look at a person’s record to determine the number of prior DUI convictions they have to then be used to increase the person’s sentence if they’re convicted or plead guilty. In Alabama, the current law says that a court can look back five years for mandatory sentence enhancement; however, a sentencing court can look at a person’s entire lifetime record from a discretionary standpoint. In terms of the look back period, you go by the date of conviction not by the date of arrest to determine the number of convictions within the look back period.